Hotel Rivel - Adventure & Nature Retreat0

Our week in Rivel was such a treat. First, the place is beautiful. There are various hikes to do (some fairly challenging), bikes to go to the nearby villages, a splendid river cascading through the property with a natural pool. The cabin is small but comfy and well-made. Care is taken to position the cabins far enough from one another, for one to really feel they have their own little nook in the mountains. Yet just a few minutes walk takes you to their restaurant, which is delicious and very reasonably priced, for Costa Rica. Waking to a fresh, full breakfast and steaming hot coffee that was grown just up the hill, while looking over the valley and river, became a cherished pleasure during our week-long stay. What really stuck out to us though was the helpfulness and willingness to find creative solutions, by the entire staff and in particular Crystal. Numerous times we asked for help or guidance for something outside the hotel's services, and every time Crystal and her colleagues went out of their way to find the solution for us, often going further than what we had asked. From getting us to the hotel from the coast with our dog, to doing laundry, to adapting the menu - they made it their mission to accommodate our every need, without batting an eyelash. This is so rare, and so incredibly important! It sets Rivel well apart from other places I've stayed in throughout Latin America and the world.

Hotel Rivel is situated in a quiet spot at the end of a 4km trail. The River Tuis runs next to the cabins with a beautiful cascade. It was great swimming here as you could swim against the current. When you were tired the cascade gave you a tremendous back massage. The campfires in the evening were great. The meals were also really good, as we were the only visitors the first 3 nights it was like having our own chef to cater for us. The hygiene in the kitchen was top.

The last 2km to arrive at Hotel Rivel was extremely bumpy. We worried about the hired car so once we arrived we felt we could not venture out. I would recommend a 4 by 4. It would help if there was a book with information on what to do and also the walking circuits nearby. We ventured out alone but we were never sure to be on a recommended pathway.

it really was a special retreat with fabulous trails through the jungle. loved our cabin and Crystal & Randy were so kind. will try to visit again. Thanks again

Such a peaceful place. The staff is so kind and helpful (you're the best, Carlos!) and the location is unbeatable. We swam in the pool, hiked the trails, and enjoyed the tranquility of the cabin. The cabins are well-built and cozy. We had a 4x2, not a 4x4, and had no problem getting up the road to the property. I would love to visit again and would recommend it to anyone who wants to disappear in nature for a few days. (The wifi also worked wonderfully if you don't want to disconnect completely).

Carlos is such an incredibly helpful person. Nothing is too much for him and he carries the place. His cooking is excellent. The location is absolutely breathtaking.

More signs are needed to find the hotel. The hotel is defunct suited for older people who are not in a good physical condition. The hotel could not accept credit cards although we were told that this will shortly change.

It’s all in the name! Adventure and nature retreat is the best way to describe it. I stayed here for a week in March and I was not disappointed. This place exceeded my expectations with the gorgeous views, waterfalls, and hiking trails. They even provided mountain bikes, so you can be as adventurous as you want to be. Meditating with the soothing sounds of a flowing stream and waterfall is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives! This is a great place for reflection and to feel rejuvenated by connecting with nature. The cabin I stayed in was comfortable and very clean, it even had its own modem so WiFi was never an issue. I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to reset, refresh and refuel!

I love to runaway to have some me time which involve contact with nature to enjoy the peace and admire God’s creation. Visiting Rivel Nature were by far, one of the most assertive choices I’ve done. My experience started as soon as I get to the area where a driver was expecting me to drive me to hotel. Real safari experience, driver took us through a small community and then into the mountain through a rustic road (loved it) that take us straight to the property. Once there, even though I was not expecting much of a welcome -because of the self-serve methodology- the staff that was on site at the moment, welcomed us warmly. They are such a nice people, always willing to help and make the experience as unforgettable as possible. Even though, my intention was to just relax I was definitely tempted to enjoy all the adventurous options they offered (cycling, horse riding, hiking, etc), guess I simply have many more reasons to return. Cabin is nice, equipped with the basics to help you relax, not worrying about much. Having a fire pit and a bbq oven makes it suitable to just trop something on the fire to eat and if you need something or just lazy to leave the property 😊, the staff is always willing to get it for you. The river and the natural pool are ideal to refresh after a long walk or any other exercise. I enjoyed the landscape, loved how the team work to maintain everything as natural as possible, making use of nature in a sustainable way. If you are observant, you will also have the chance to see different bird species and fireflies… What else can I say? If you love camping or a relaxation opportunity, this is the place!! If you want to forget about work and just go back you childhood, before we get trapped into technology… this is the place!!! But don’t worry, the property has a decent speed internet in case you need to join a meeting or so, but trust me, you will be missing a lot if you get there just to work 😊. I'll be back...

I'm sorry that my car was not ideal to make it to the property but truly appreciate the driver arrangement while access become optimal for all wheels :)

Hotel Rivel was just what I was expecting and more. I'm a very outdoor person so being in the mountains and having access to a mountain bike was exactly what I needed. The room was so cozy and I love all of the person touches like the adaptors and especially the fresh bananas hanging at the front! I've never experienced anything like it. The staff were so pleasant and this property has so much to explore. The pool with the waterfall was incredible and I loved hiking and biking on the trails. It's the perfect place for peace and if you're looking for it, adventure!! Not to mention, the wifi connection was surprisingly strong! I could easily stream and catch up on work emails when I needed to! Great value!

A beautiful resort - comfortable beds, extremely friendly staff, and beautiful natural setting. We loved the privacy of the cabin and enjoying the river and waterfalls.

Everything was lovely! As other reviewers have noted, the road is not for folks who aren't familiar with driving in a wide range of conditions in Costa Rica. We found the road to be surprisingly well-maintained and easy to navigate, especially for rainy season.

Such a cool place! The cabin was awesome - we had a beautiful view of the property, close to walk down for a swim in the waterfall pool and it was well set up for us with cute extras like bikes, games and coffee machine. Location was rural set in the mountains with lots of fruit trees and birds (exactly what we wanted) - nice and peaceful, loads of trails to hike and not far drive/bike into the local village with pubs, pharmacy, grocery stores etc. Had just opened when we stayed but everything was set up beautifully and was easy to check in etc, hidden gem won't stay hidden for long!

Nothing - communication and stay were great! Will come back again!